If you plan your time around what’s happening in Cuenca’s creative community, then this column is for you. Published every Monday, “What’s Happening Under the Domes”highlights the exhibits, concerts, workshops
and other not-to-be-missed artistic events scheduled for the coming week. We cannot guarantee a complete listing, but we’ll try our best to keep you informed.
This week:
Extraordinary Exhibit of Eduardo Segovia’s art collection at CVA
Opening on Friday, February 1 at Cuenca Visual Arts Gallery (CVA), from 5 to 7 p.m. and continuing through February 23, will be an exceptional show of paintings from Ecuador’s master artists, as well as artists from Peru and Holland.
Eduardo Segovia
Artist Eduardo Segovia, Cuenca’s master ceramicist, is offering works from his private collection. These works have been collected over decades, and include the most renowned painters of Ecuador, including Miguel Betancourt, Beltran, Alfarro, M. Serrano, Whitman Gualsaqui, Ylari, Luis Lopez Cruz and more. Also see Peruvian artist Besantez, and Dutch artist Anna Reindeer.
This show is a special opportunity to see and collect master artworks from Ecuador, Peru, and beyond. Meet Eduardo Segovia at the opening, and enjoy his fantastic collection of art.
The CVA gallery is located at Calle Larga, 3-82 y Vargas Machuca in the Santa Canela Building
Regular CVA Gallery hours are Wednesday thru Saturday, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Monday, January 28
Scott Cushing’s “Streets of Tokyo” exhibition at idiomART
This is the last week to see the exhibition, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To see some of Scott’s work, you can go to this link: https://www.scottcushingphotography.com
idiomART is located at President Córdova 1-77 y Manuel Vega
La Guarida presents “Amores Perros”
7 p.m.
“Amores Perros” is a film by Alejandro González Iñarritu.
This intense drama introduced the world to both the director Alejandro González Iñárritu and the actor Gael García Bernal. Its complex narrative revolves around a violent car crash in Mexico City that brings together three strangers — a love-struck young man trying to run away with his sister-in-law, a supermodel in a troubled relationship and a vagrant who’s actually an assassin — jumping back and forth to before and after the accident. The movie earned Iñárritu international acclaim, and he easily found his new home: Hollywood while Gael García has been one of the most consistent actors of our generation.
La Guarida is located at Mariscal Lamar y Luis Pauta (a few blocks away from Common Grounds).
Tuesday, January 29
Inauguremos San Francisco ¡Tu Nueva Plaza!
6 p.m.
Opening of the new San Francisco Plaza with art, music, fireworks and much more.
The renovated San Francisco Plaza
Plaza San Francisco is and has been one of the main cultural centers in el Centro for over 450 year. In the nineteenth century, the space was also used for executions of prisoner sentenced to death, a theater stage, and at one time a bus terminal. Now, through a major urban rehabilitation program, it is be renovated to a fabulous artisan and commercial center.
San Francisco Plaza is located at Padre Aguirre y Presidente Córdova.
Poemas
7 p.m.
The 55th anniversary of the poems for children by Eugenio Moreno Heredia will be celebrated at the Museo de la Ciudad at Gran Colombia y Begnino Malo.
La Guarida presents “Spotlight”
7 p.m.
“Spotlight” a film by Tom McCarthy
English with Spanish Subtitles.
If you’re looking for a best picture-winning dark procedural. “Spotlight” follows the titular newspaper team through its intensive investigation. While it moves quickly through months of door-to-door reporting and late nights in the office, “Spotlight” doesn’t glamorize the drudgery of newspaper journalism or its early 2000’s norm core fashion. The excellent and award-winning cast researched their real-life journalist counterparts for the film, with both Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams earning the highest of praise for their roles.
La Guarida is located at Mariscal Lamar y Luis Pauta(a few blocks away from Common Grounds).
“Smoking Mirror” Exhibit at Museo de los Metales
The Aztec conquistadors scare the bejesus out of the poor Europeans.
Quito artist Eduardo Villacis’ “Smoking Mirror” exhibit at the Museo de los Metales is an amazing show. The exhibit includes painting, illustration, a video, and sculpture, with a big dose of humor. It graphically illustrates how history is written by the victors.
Free.
Museo de los Metales is located at Av. Solano 11-83.
Wednesday, January 30
Gary and Eva playing at El Meson Espanol
7 to 9 p.m.
With guitar and voice, Gary and Eva weave melodies and harmonies around jazz standards from the Great American Songbook and Bossa nova, as well as selections from the Beatles, Motown, and folk-rock from the ’60’s and ’70’s. They have performed separately and together for many years and are now in Cuenca for a short visit.
Come and listen as well as having dinner and drinks!
El Meson Espanol is located at Presidente Borrero 7 51 entre Presidente Córdova y Sucre.
Salsa lessons at Santa Canela every Wednesday
Do you want to learn Latin dances?
Every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Salsa, Merengue, Tango. $7 per person.
Santa CanelaHostal Bar Grill and Lounge is located on Calle Larga 3-82 Y Vargas Machuca, pass Todos Santos.
Thursday, January 31
Loaves and Fishes Anniversary!
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Please join Kelbert and Lenny in celebrating 2 years of being in business together. The Second Anniversary Party is being held at The Chocolate Factory and Bistro (Altisimo Chocolate) on Gran Colombia y Benigno Malo.
There will be music from DJ Rinaldo Cropper, wine tasting, new products to taste, and prizes to win.
Friday, February 1
Art History Salon
10:30 a.m. to Noon (Doors open at 10 a.m.)
Cost $10. No reservation needed. Coffee, tea, and snacks available.
This week, Art Historian Berenice Cárdenas will be covering European-influenced Architecture and will include a variety of images of Churches and houses which made of Cuenca a World Heritage site for the UNESCO. An optional field trip is planned for the afternoon.
idiomART is located at PresidenteCórdova 1-77 between Manuel Vega and Miguel Angel Estrella, in el Centro.
Cuenca Symphony Orchestra presents Gustav Mahler Concert
8 p.m.
The Cuenca Symphony Orchestra will present works by Gustav Mahler at in the Catedral Vieja by Parque Calderon. The program will include his 5th Symphony.
Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3
Cooking class at the Alliance Française on Saturday
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
$10 for AF members – $15 public. (Spanish, English and French spoken)
Make your cooking skills more enjoyable by learning how to use a pressure cooker
Class executed by yours, humbly, Chef Marc Dullin (Retired in Cuenca)
This class will cover pressure-cooker techniques (very useful in high altitude).
- Shrimp stuffed avocado – Aurore style
- Braised short ribs in cabernet gorgonzola sauce
- Buttermilk mashed potato
- French Apple/Raisin/Walnut strudel in Filo dough
Afterword, you will enjoy this delightful lunch together.
To reserve your place, please register with Thibault at the Alliance Française, located at
Tadeo Torres 1-92 y Av. Solano.
Price includes a full set of recipes, a generous serving/tasting of the menu, plus bring your kitchen’s knives for a free sharpening and always a glass of chilled Chardonnay.
Class fills up quick and spaces are limited.
Meditate with Shambhala
Sunday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Free, though donations appreciated.
All are welcome! The Cuenca Shambhala Meditation Group invites you to meditate together.
Shambhala International follows the tradition of Pema Chödron and her teachers Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.Sunday’s practices include group chanting, silent seated meditation, and group walking meditation.
Chairs and cushions are provided. Everyone is invited to join us for brunch/lunch at a restaurant after meditation.
Meditation instructions are available free with advance notice at 9.30 a.m.
Located at 8-81 Calle Larga, east of Benigno Malo, south side, upstairs at Namaste India Restaurant.
Volleyball on Sunday
Have you played regulation international 6-on-6 volleyball in the past and are looking for a fun way to exercise? Good news. Play will be from Noon to 2 p.m.
Location is tournament style outdoor net on the grass just west of the soccer field at the west end of Parque El Paraiso (not too far from Banos and refreshments!) – at the intersection of Pje. Del Paraiso and Avenida Diez de Agosto.
For more information, email Gary at gl.e.volleyball@gmail.com
Outdoor regulation international 6-on-6 volleyball for expats and Cuencanos from noon to 2 PM, weather permitting. Look for the grass court just west of the soccer field at the west end of Parque El Paraiso
Coming soon!
Guitarra VIVA. Mario Arévalo y Bolívar Avila in Concierto
Friday, February 8 at 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Mario Arévalo, from Colombia, and Bolívar Ávila, from Ecuado,r come together to give us a recital with their new works. It will be a recital where, in addition, their individual performances will give us duo pieces of the Colombian and Ecuadorian musical tradition.
Mario Arévalo is a prominent Colombian concert player and one of the most internationally known names in the Latin American guitar.
Bolívar Ávila is an important classical guitarist in the national scene. He has participated in international festivals such as the “Guitarijeando International Guitar Fest”, in Bolivia, in 2018. He isthe director of the Cultural Center and Guitar Studio “SONO”.
Location: Teatro Casa De La Cultura, Sala Alfonso Carrasco
Pablo Neruda’s Love Poems at CVA on Valentine’s Day
Pablo Neruda
Cuenca Visual Arts is putting together an informal reading of poems by the beloved Latin poet, Pablo Neruda, on Valentine’s Day. It would be early, so people can still enjoy a special Valentine’s dinner.
If you are interested in reading one of Neruda’s love poems, in Spanish or English, please contact Janda Grove to be added to the list.
It would be nice to have each poem read in English and Spanish, but not necessary. Find a love poem and volunteer.
Also, to honor the passing of contemporary American poet, Mary Oliver, there could be a reading of one or more of her poems. She touched many of us with her words.
The reading would be held at the Cuenca Visual Arts Gallery on Calle Larga, in the Santa Canela Building. Add it to your calendar now!
Contact Janda by email if you are interested in participating at jandagrove@yahoo.com
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What’s Happening Under the Domes is a weekly column by Sara Coppler. Sara has lived in Ecuador for over 5 years. She is an architect by training, who has worked for more than two decades in the field of international development and poverty housing. She is a co-founder of idiomART, a creative community center in Cuenca. Having admired the creative process throughout her life,she describes herself as a “Head Cheerleader for the Arts.” It’sthis enthusiasm that she hopes to bring to this weekly column. You may contact her at info@underthedomes.org and feel free to check out her Under The Domes website at www.underthedomes.org
